Some Fun Italian Festivals

There are literally hundreds of festivals across Italy each and every year! Many are medieval and cultural festivals whose origins extend back hundreds and even thousands of years, while some are of a more recent invention. Italy Revealed has put together specialized individual and group programs for many of these festivals. If you have an interest in knowing more about a specific festival or attending one of these fun and exciting events, contact us at reservations@walkertravels.com and we will glad to help you with the planning.

A short list of some of the main Italian festivals! Please note the dates change annually in many cases.

January
Nothing scheduled due to post Christmas, New Years, and the Epiphany celebrations.

February
Viareggio Carnival
Celebrate Carnival Italian style for four weeks in Viareggio. Viareggio has the most color and the best floats and parades of all of Italy's Carnival celebrations and is great for families.

Orange Throwing at the Ivrea Carnival
Orange throwing in Ivrea, Italy is a different type of world festival. Your travel insurance policy won't cover this when you are pelted with oranges. It is a lot of fun however! Ivrea is located near Turin, Italy.

Valentines Day in Italy
Celebrate love in San Valentino’s hometown in Umbria.

March
Scoppio Del Carro
Celebrate Easter Sunday in Florence with a procession, fireworks, and a late night celebration.

Venice Carnival
Venice Carnival has the biggest fancy dress celebration in the world dating back to 1268(even before the term fancy dress existed)!

April
Mediaeval Festival of Cesena
Located between San Marino and Bologna, Cesena holds a very interesting festival at the Rocca Malatestiana. There are authentic medieval costumes, archers, minstrels, and more!

May
Calendimaggio of Assisi (An Italy Revealed “Must See” festival)
It is a spectacular evocation of medieval and Renaissance costumes and life. The two ancient medieval wards, the "Parte di Sopra" and the "Parte di Sotto," engage in a spectacular challenge which takes the form of theatre shows, concerts, songs and choruses, dances, processions, archery, crossbows, and flag-waving displays. The districts compete in a singing contest among the spectacular floral decorations, flags, torches, and candles.

Snake Festival
Worship a statue with live snakes in Cocullo (Abruzzo Region).

Gubbio Candle Race
Watch the 800-year-old race of 1/2 ton candles.

June
Battle of the Bridge in Pisa
Watch the old quarters of Pisa battle over the river Arno with a big block of wood.

Calcio Storico
Calcio Storico is the oldest of soccer games in the world. Ever wonder where the game murder-ball came from? From Florence, of course. This time when the Italian dives, it's for real.

Pisa Regatta
Thousands flock to the banks of the Arno to witness this Italian riverboat festival.

Medieval Festival of Tuscany (An Italy Revealed “Must See” festival)
Hundreds of years of tradition converge for this celebration held in a small Tuscan town (Monteriggioni).

July
Palio di Siena
Palio di Siena - an epic traditional Italian horse race dating back hundreds of centuries. The Siena locals celebrate in a medieval fashion as 17 different areas fight against one another.

Redeemer Festival
Venice’s favorite festival.

Noantri
Rome's procession to the Madonna.

Medieval Festival of San Marino
Europe’s oldest Republic celebrates its antiquity.

August
Verona Opera Festival
Enjoy the world’s best opera in an amphitheater dating back to 30 B.C.

Rossini Opera Festival 
Enjoy the works of Rossini in Pesaro along the Adriatic Coast

Bicycle Film Fest
This extreme yet artistic celebration blazes a trail around the world providing awesome tricks, films, and parties on its merry way.

Palio of Siena
Palio di Siena - the second Palio occurs while Italy is on holiday, so expect bigger crowds than during the June Palio. Reservations must be made well in advance.

European Beard & Moustache Competition
Grottaglie’s famous contest of facial hair and fun. Grottaglie is located in Apulia.

Medieval Festival of Oria (An Italy Revealed “Must See” festival)
Located in Apulia, near Brindisi, Oria hosts one of the best medieval festivals of Italy and pays homage to Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor.

September
Regatta Storico
The biggest event on Venice’s regatta circuit.

White Night in Rome
Celebrate 24 hours of light in the Eternal city.

The Saracen Joust of Arezzo (An Italy Revealed “Must See” festival)
See live medieval jousting in Arezzo, Tuscany!

October
La Barcana Medieval Festival
Held in Civitella San Paolo, near Rome, this is a great opportunity to experience local medieval folklore and music

November
Swans & Ladders
An ancient battle of Italian quarters in Mirano (20 miles from Venice).

Horn Festival
A day to remember anyone who has been cheated on… ever! Located near Rome in Rocca Canterano.

December
Medieval Festival of San Nicola of Narni (Umbria)
See Italian life in the middle ages at this unique festival. The food and wine are in abundance!

If you want to experience the fun and historical side of Italy, arrange everything with the festival experts of Italy Revealed!